Insights

Eight Tips for Keeping Your Resume Up to Date

Written by: Lauren Brooks | August 2017

Are you anticipating an employment change in the near future or currently
seeking a new opportunity? Updating your resume should be completed at
least annually even if you have no intention of changing jobs any time soon. In
addition, in this day and age, it is critical to transfer any new skills, professional
achievements and/or career advancements to your LinkedIn or other professional
social media profiles.

Here are eight tips for keeping your resume up to date:

Create a system.
Develop a process for keeping track of major achievements and recognition as
they occur. For example, one colleague keeps an “accomplishments” folder in her
email. Any time she achieves something she is proud of or receives praise, she
drops emails related to this into her “accomplishments”. Another colleague keeps
a running list in a Microsoft Office One Note notebook of projects she’s working on or completed. The trick is to find a system that works for you. Your attention
to detail and organization will be the tool that makes updating your resume quick
and painless.

Read your calendar and performance reviews.
If you are having trouble remembering your contributions to significant projects,
you may be able to refresh your memory by reviewing your work calendar for the
past year. Also, look up your performance review which will highlight important
projects and your achievements.

Ask a friend or colleague.
In addition to grammatical edits, ask colleagues to review your resume for
missing skills and achievements. Sometimes we overlook smaller projects that
may have resulted in significant impact.

Remember to delete.
You may want to remove information that is no longer relevant from your resume.
For example, deleting references to technology that is no longer in use or jobs
held earlier in your career that are no longer relevant make it easier for recruiters
to focus on your applicable experience.

Do not always worry about length.
One page resumes are a relic of the past. If you have relevant information that
supports your candidacy, share it. In particular, contractors tend to change jobs
more frequently while accumulating a variety of important skills and experiences.
These are worth taking extra space to highlight. Keep in mind the average
resume gets reviewed in 10 seconds, so be selective.

Quantify whenever possible.
Percentages, numbers, statistics – they will all help support your
accomplishments and tend to standout when a recruiter or hiring manager is
scanning your resume. If you have meaningful data to share, include it.

Be specific.
Too often, people include a project they were a part of but omit the role they
personally played. Think about what your individual contributions were and
highlight those.

Consider a format change.
Your resume layout should reflect your industry or, if applicable, the one in which
you are seeking a new position in. A technology resume, for example, begins with
a professional summary but also includes a technical summary that highlights
different projects. If you are looking to make a change, search online to find
samples of other resumes in the new industry and mirror that standard.

Remember, your resume is a reflection of you and your professional
accomplishments. Annual updates will ensure you do not miss or forget about
the critical skills and experience you have acquired. If you are interested in an
opportunity at Veritude, our Talent Acquisition team can often provide you with
additional tips based on the particular role you are interested in. Just ask!